2 Korintus 4:18

4:18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2 Korintus 12:1

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting. ¹  Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

2 Korintus 12:6

12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling ²  the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard ³  me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,

2 Korintus 3:13

3:13 and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites ⁴  from staring ⁵  at the result ⁶  of the glory that was made ineffective. ⁷ 

2 Korintus 7:8

7:8 For even if I made you sad ⁸  by my letter, ⁹  I do not regret having written it ¹⁰  (even though I did regret it, ¹¹  for ¹²  I see that my letter made you sad, ¹³  though only for a short time).

2 Korintus 4:4

4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe ¹⁴  so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel ¹⁵  of Christ, ¹⁶  who is the image of God.

2 Korintus 10:10

10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ¹⁷  and his speech is of no account.” ¹⁸ 

2 Korintus 10:7

10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. ¹⁹  If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

2 Korintus 7:11

7:11 For see what this very thing, this sadness ²⁰  as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, ²¹  what indignation, ²²  what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, ²³  what punishment! ²⁴  In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

2 Korintus 5:7

5:7 for we live ²⁵  by faith, not by sight.

2 Korintus 13:9

13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. ²⁶ 

2 Korintus 10:9

10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

2 Korintus 7:13

7:13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit. ²⁷ 

2 Korintus 13:6

13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test! ²⁸ 

2 Korintus 5:13

5:13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

2 Korintus 6:9

6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged ²⁹  and yet not executed;

2 Korintus 12:3

12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)

2 Korintus 12:12

12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance ³⁰  by signs and wonders and powerful deeds. ³¹ 

2 Korintus 2:9

2:9 For this reason also I wrote you: ³²  to test you to see ³³  if you are obedient in everything.

2 Korintus 3:2

3:2 You yourselves are our letter, ³⁴  written on our hearts, known and read by everyone,

2 Korintus 12:14

12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have ³⁵  to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

2 Korintus 3:3

3:3 revealing ³⁶  that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, ³⁷  written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets ³⁸  but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Korintus 9:13

9:13 Through the evidence ³⁹  of this service ⁴⁰  they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing ⁴¹  with them and with everyone.

2 Korintus 12:2

12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.

2 Korintus 13:7

13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, ⁴²  but so that you may do what is right ⁴³  even if we may appear to have failed the test. ⁴⁴ 

2 Korintus 3:1

A Living Letter

3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? ⁴⁵ 

2 Korintus 4:7

An Eternal Weight of Glory

4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power ⁴⁶  belongs to God and does not come from us.

2 Korintus 4:10-11

4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, ⁴⁷  so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁴⁸  in our body. 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ⁴⁹  in our mortal body. ⁵⁰ 

2 Korintus 8:8

8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. ⁵¹ 

2 Korintus 8:24

8:24 Therefore show ⁵²  them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. ⁵³ 

2 Korintus 9:4

9:4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated ⁵⁴  (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. ⁵⁵ 

2 Korintus 2:17

2:17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, ⁵⁶  but we are speaking in Christ before ⁵⁷  God as persons of sincerity, ⁵⁸  as persons sent from God.

2 Korintus 4:6

4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” ⁵⁹  is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge ⁶⁰  of God in the face of Christ. ⁶¹ 

2 Korintus 5:12

5:12 We are not trying to commend ⁶²  ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, ⁶³  so that you may be able to answer those who take pride ⁶⁴  in outward appearance ⁶⁵  and not in what is in the heart.

2 Korintus 7:12

7:12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf ⁶⁶  before God.

2 Korintus 8:19

8:19 In addition, ⁶⁷  this brother ⁶⁸  has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift ⁶⁹  to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. ⁷⁰ 

2 Korintus 9:5

9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution ⁷¹  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ⁷²  and not as something you feel forced to do. ⁷³ 

2 Korintus 10:2

10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving ⁷⁴  according to human standards. ⁷⁵ 

2 Korintus 12:7

12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, ⁷⁶  so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble ⁷⁷  me – so that I would not become arrogant. ⁷⁸ 

2 Korintus 12:9

12:9 But ⁷⁹  he said to me, “My grace is enough ⁸⁰  for you, for my ⁸¹  power is made perfect ⁸²  in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly ⁸³  about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in ⁸⁴  me.

2 Korintus 13:5

13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! ⁸⁵ 

[12:1]  ¹ tn Grk “Boasting is necessary.”

[12:6]  ² tn Or “speaking.”

[12:6]  ³ tn Or “may think of.”

[3:13]  ⁴ tn Grk “the sons of Israel.”

[3:13]  ⁵ tn Or “from gazing intently.”

[3:13]  ⁶ tn Or “end.” The word τέλος (telos) can mean both “a point of time marking the end of a duration, end, termination, cessation” and “the goal toward which a movement is being directed, end, goal, outcome” (see BDAG 998-999 s.v.). The translation accepts the interpretation that Moses covered the glory of his face with the veil to prevent Israel from being judged by the glory of God (see S. J. Hafemann, Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel [WUNT 81], 347-62); in this case the latter meaning for τέλος is more appropriate.

[3:13]  ⁷ tn Or “was fading away”; Grk “on the result of what was made ineffective.” The referent (glory) has been specified in the translation for clarity. See note on “which was made ineffective” in v. 7.

[7:8]  ⁸ tn Grk “if I grieved you.”

[7:8]  ⁹ sn My letter. Paul is referring to the “severe” letter mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4.

[7:8]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “I do not regret”; direct objects in Greek must often be supplied from the context. Here one could simply supply “it,” but since Paul is referring to the effects of his previous letter, clarity is improved if “having written it” is supplied.

[7:8]  ¹¹ tn Grk “I did regret”; the direct object “it” must be supplied from the context.

[7:8]  ¹² tc A few important mss (Ì^46c B D* it sa) lack γάρ (gar, “for”), while the majority of witnesses have it (א C D¹ F G Ψ 0243 33 1739 1881 Ï sy bo). Even though Ì^46* omits γάρ, it has the same sense (viz., a subordinate clause) because it reads the participle βλέπων (blepwn, “seeing”; the Vulgate does the same). A decision is difficult because although the overwhelming external evidence is on the side of the conjunction, the lack of γάρ is a significantly harder reading, for the whole clause is something of an anacoluthon. Without the conjunction, the sentence reads more harshly. This would fit with Paul’s “vehemence of spirit” (A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament, 435) that is found especially in 2 Corinthians and Galatians. However, the mss that omit the conjunction are prone to such tendencies at times. In this instance, the conjunction should probably stand.

[7:8]  ¹³ tn Grk “my letter grieved you.”

[4:4]  ¹⁴ tn Or “of unbelievers.”

[4:4]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “the gospel of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[4:4]  ¹⁶ tn Or “so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ would not be evident to them” (L&N 28.37).

[10:10]  ¹⁷ tn Or “unimpressive.”

[10:10]  ¹⁸ tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”

[10:7]  ¹⁹ tn The phrase is close to a recognized idiom for judging based on outward appearances (L&N 30.120). Some translators see a distinction, however, and translate 2 Cor 10:7a as “Look at what is in front of your eyes,” that is, the obvious facts of the case (so NRSV).

[7:11]  ²⁰ tn Grk “this very thing, to be grieved.”

[7:11]  ²¹ tn The words “of yourselves” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[7:11]  ²² sn What indignation refers to the Corinthians’ indignation at the offender.

[7:11]  ²³ tn Or “what zeal.”

[7:11]  ²⁴ sn That is, punishment for the offender.

[5:7]  ²⁵ tn Grk “we walk.”

[13:9]  ²⁶ tn Or “fully equipped.”

[7:13]  ²⁷ tn Or “all of you have put his mind at ease.”

[13:6]  ²⁸ tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”

[6:9]  ²⁹ tn Grk “disciplined,” but in this context probably a reference to scourging prior to execution (yet the execution is not carried out).

[12:12]  ³⁰ tn Or “patience,” “endurance.”

[12:12]  ³¹ tn Or “and miracles.”

[2:9]  ³² tn The word “you” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (as an understood direct object).

[2:9]  ³³ tn Grk “to know the proof of you,” that is, to know if the Corinthians’ obedience to Paul as an apostle was genuine (L&N 72.7).

[3:2]  ³⁴ tn That is, “letter of recommendation.”

[12:14]  ³⁵ tn Grk “children ought not,” but this might give the impression that children are not supposed to support sick or aging parents in need of help. That is not what Paul is saying. His point is that children should not have to pay their parent’s way.

[3:3]  ³⁶ tn Or “making plain.”

[3:3]  ³⁷ tn Grk “cared for by us,” an expression that could refer either to the writing or the delivery of the letter (BDAG 229 s.v. διακονέω 1). Since the following phrase refers to the writing of the letter, and since the previous verse speaks of this “letter” being “written on our [Paul’s and his companions’] hearts” it is more probable that the phrase “cared for by us” refers to the delivery of the letter (in the person of Paul and his companions).

[3:3]  ³⁸ sn An allusion to Exod 24:12; 31:18; 34:1; Deut 9:10-11.

[9:13]  ³⁹ tn Or “proof,” or perhaps “testing” (NRSV).

[9:13]  ⁴⁰ tn Or “ministry.”

[9:13]  ⁴¹ tn Or “your partnership”; Grk “your fellowship.”

[13:7]  ⁴² tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”

[13:7]  ⁴³ tn Or “what is good.”

[13:7]  ⁴⁴ tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”

[3:1]  ⁴⁵ tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative reply (“No, we do not”) which is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ at the end, “do we?”

[4:7]  ⁴⁶ tn Grk “the surpassingness of the power”; δυνάμεως (dunamew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (“extraordinary power”).

[4:10]  ⁴⁷ tn The first clause of 2 Cor 4:10 is elliptical and apparently refers to the fact that Paul was constantly in danger of dying in the same way Jesus died (by violence at least). According to L&N 23.99 it could be translated, “at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was.”

[4:10]  ⁴⁸ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ⁴⁹ tn Or “may also be revealed.”

[4:11]  ⁵⁰ tn Grk “mortal flesh.”

[8:8]  ⁵¹ tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”

[8:24]  ⁵² tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later mss, along with several early and important ones (א C D² Ψ 0225 0243 1739 1881 Ï lat), have the imperative verb ἐνδείξασθε (ejndeixasqe) in place of the participle ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi), which is found in B D* F G 33 pc. Since an imperatival participle is more Hebraic in style, many scribes would not have understood the idiom as easily and would have been likely to change the participle to an imperative (so TCGNT 513-14). But there is no good reason why scribes would change the imperative into a participle. Thus, ἐνδεικνύμενοι is almost surely the wording of the original text.

[8:24]  tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).

[8:24]  ⁵³ tn Or “our boasting about you.”

[9:4]  ⁵⁴ tn Or “be disgraced”; Grk “be put to shame.”

[9:4]  ⁵⁵ tn Grk “by this confidence”; the words “we had in you” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied as a necessary clarification for the English reader.

[2:17]  ⁵⁶ tn The participle καπηλεύοντες (kaphleuonte") refers to those engaged in retail business, but with the negative connotations of deceptiveness and greed – “to peddle for profit,” “to huckster” (L&N 57.202). In the translation a noun form (“hucksters”) has been used in combination with the English verb “peddle…for profit” to convey the negative connotations of this term.

[2:17]  ⁵⁷ tn Or “in the presence of.”

[2:17]  ⁵⁸ tn Or “persons of pure motives.”

[4:6]  ⁵⁹ sn An allusion to Gen 1:3; see also Isa 9:2.

[4:6]  ⁶⁰ tn Grk “the light of the knowledge of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[4:6]  ⁶¹ tc ‡ Most witnesses, including several early and important ones (Ì⁴⁶ א C H Ψ 0209 1739^c Ï sy), read ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Ihsou Cristou, “Jesus Christ”), while other important witnesses, especially of the Western text (D F G 0243 630 1739* 1881 lat Ambst), have Χριστοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ. The reading with just Χριστοῦ is found in A B 33 {sa} Tert {Or Ath Chr}. Even though the witnesses for the shorter reading are not numerous, they are weighty. And in light of the natural scribal proclivity to fill out the text, particularly with reference to divine names, as well as the discrepancy among the witnesses as to the order of the names, the simple reading Χριστοῦ seems to be the best candidate for authenticity. NA²⁷ reads ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ with ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[5:12]  ⁶² tn The present tense of συνιστάνομεν (sunistanomen) has been translated as a conative present.

[5:12]  ⁶³ tn Or “to boast about us.”

[5:12]  ⁶⁴ tn Or “who boast.”

[5:12]  ⁶⁵ tn Or “in what is seen.”

[7:12]  ⁶⁶ tn Grk “but in order that your eagerness on our behalf might be revealed to you.”

[8:19]  ⁶⁷ tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

[8:19]  ⁶⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:19]  ⁶⁹ tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

[8:19]  ⁷⁰ tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

[9:5]  ⁷¹ tn Grk “the blessing.”

[9:5]  ⁷² tn Grk “a blessing.”

[9:5]  ⁷³ tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.

[10:2]  ⁷⁴ tn Grk “consider us as walking.”

[10:2]  ⁷⁵ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

[12:7]  ⁷⁶ tc Most mss (Ì⁴⁶ D Ψ 1881 Ï) lack διό (dio, “Therefore”), but the widespread distribution and quality of mss which include it (א A B F G 0243 33 81 1175 1739 pc) argues for its authenticity. Internally, its case is equally strong in that its inclusion is grammatically rough (διό is hardly necessary to convey purpose, especially since Paul uses ἵνα [{ina, “so that”] next).

[12:7]  ⁷⁷ tn Or “to harass.”

[12:7]  ⁷⁸ tn The phrase “so that I might not become arrogant” is repeated here because it occurs in the Greek text two times in the verse. Although redundant, it is repeated because of the emphatic nature of its affirmation.

[12:9]  ⁷⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” because of the contrast implicit in the context.

[12:9]  ⁸⁰ tn Or “is sufficient.”

[12:9]  ⁸¹ tc The majority of later mss (א² A^c D¹ Ψ 0243 0278 33 1739 1881 Ï) as well as some versional witnesses include the pronoun “my” here, but the omission of the pronoun has excellent external support (Ì^46vid א* A* B D* F G latt). Scribes probably added the pronoun for clarity, making the obvious referent explicit. This would also make “power” more parallel with “my grace.” Though the original text probably did not include “my,” scribes who added the word were following the sense of Paul’s statement.

[12:9]  tn The pronoun “my” was supplied in the translation to clarify the sense of Paul’s expression.

[12:9]  ⁸² tn Or “my power comes to full strength.”

[12:9]  ⁸³ tn “Most gladly,” a comparative form used with superlative meaning and translated as such.

[12:9]  ⁸⁴ tn Or “may rest on.”

[13:5]  ⁸⁵ tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”